U.S. patent application number 11/467518 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-01 for key pad assembly and mobile communication terminal having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Sang-Eun Nam.
Application Number | 20070046636 11/467518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37467531 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070046636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nam; Sang-Eun |
March 1, 2007 |
KEY PAD ASSEMBLY AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL HAVING THE
SAME
Abstract
A key pad assembly and a mobile communication terminal having
the same. The key pad assembly comprises: a key pad installed at a
front surface of a cover so as to be exposed outwardly; a switching
unit arranged at a rear surface of the cover for generating a
signal when the key pad is pressed; a signal transmitting unit
electrically connected to the switching unit below the switching
unit, for transmitting a signal generated from the switching unit;
and a supporting plate arranged below the signal transmitting unit
and having a guiding portion for inducing the signal transmitting
unit to be bent in a direction spaced from a lower surface of the
cover, for supporting the signal transmitting unit towards the
cover. As the key pad assembly is implemented to be slim, a spatial
efficiency of the mobile communication terminal is increased.
Inventors: |
Nam; Sang-Eun; (Gyeonggi-Do,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CASCIO, SCHMOYER & ZERVAS
423 BROADWAY AVE.
STE. 314
MILLBRAE
CA
94030-1905
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37467531 |
Appl. No.: |
11/467518 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/0216 20130101;
H04M 2250/18 20130101; H04M 1/23 20130101; H04M 2250/16
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/169 |
International
Class: |
G09G 5/00 20060101
G09G005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 26, 2005 |
KR |
79084/2005 |
Claims
1. A key pad assembly, comprising: a key pad installed at a front
surface of a cover so as to be exposed outwardly; a switching unit
arranged at a rear surface of the cover for generating a signal
when the key pad is pressed; a signal transmitting unit
electrically connected to the switching unit below the switching
unit, for transmitting a signal generated from the switching unit;
and a supporting plate arranged below the signal transmitting unit
and having a guiding portion configured to allow the signal
transmitting unit to be bent in a direction spaced from a lower
surface of the cover, the supporting plate configured to support
the signal transmitting unit towards the cover.
2. The key pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the guiding portion is
adapted to be formed as a cut-out portion at the supporting plate
corresponding to a portion of the signal transmitting unit.
3. The key pad assembly of claim 1, further comprising a soldering
portion formed at the signal transmitting unit and arranged on the
same plane as the supporting plate by a partial bending of the
signal transmitting unit, for electrically connecting the signal
transmitting unit and a speaker.
4. The key pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting
unit is divided into at least two portions and the guiding portion
is configured to be formed to correspond to a portion of the at
least two portions.
5. The key pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the guiding portion is
formed on the supporting plate in a longitudinal direction.
6. The key pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the key pad, the
switching unit, the signal transmitting unit, and the supporting
plate are arranged to be in parallel with the cover.
7. A mobile communication terminal, comprising. a terminal body;
and a key pad assembly mounted at the terminal body for inputting a
signal, the key pad assembly including: a key pad installed at the
terminal body; a switching unit arranged in the terminal body for
generating a signal when the key pad is operated; a signal
transmitting unit electrically connected to the switching unit for
transmitting a signal generated from the switching unit; and a
supporting plate arranged below the signal transmitting unit and
having a cut-out portion for allowing the signal transmitting unit
to be bent in a direction spaced from a lower surface of the cover,
the supporting plate biasing the signal transmitting unit towards
the cover.
8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the
guiding portion is implemented as a cut-out portion cut-out at the
supporting plate in correspondence with a portion of the signal
transmitting unit.
9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, further comprising
a soldering portion formed at the signal transmitting unit and
arranged on the same plane as the supporting plate by a partial
bending of the signal transmitting unit, the soldering portion
providing an electrical connection between the signal transmitting
unit and a speaker.
10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the
signal transmitting unit is divided into at least two portions and
the guiding portion is configured to be formed to correspond to a
portion of the at least two portions.
11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the
guiding portion is formed in a longitudinal direction of the
supporting plate.
12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein the key
pad, the switching unit, the signal transmitting unit, and the
supporting plate are arranged to be in parallel with the terminal
body.
13. A mobile communication terminal, comprising: a terminal body; a
cover body moveable between an open and closed position with
respect to the terminal body, the cover body comprising an upper
cover and a lower cover to form an inner space therebetween when
the upper cover and lower cover are coupled to each other; and a
key pad assembly mounted at the folder portion for inputting a
signal by a pressing operation, the key pad assembly including: a
key pad installed at an outer surface of the cover body, a
switching unit arranged at the inner space of the cover body for
generating a signal when the key pad is operated, a signal
transmitting unit configured to be arranged below the switching
unit and electrically connected to the switching unit, the signal
transmitting unit transmitting a signal generated from the
switching unit, and a supporting plate arranged below the signal
transmitting unit and having a cut-out portion for allowing the
signal transmitting unit to be bent in a direction spaced from a
lower surface of the upper cover.
14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the
guiding is portion is implemented as a cut-out portion at the
supporting plate in correspondence with a portion of the signal
transmitting unit.
15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, further
comprising a soldering portion formed at the signal transmitting
unit and arranged on the same plane as the supporting plate by a
partial bending of the signal transmitting unit, for electrically
connecting the signal transmitting unit and a speaker.
16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the
signal transmitting unit is divided into at least two portions, and
the guiding portion is formed to correspond to a part of the
portions.
17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the
guiding portion is formed in a longitudinal direction of the
supporting plate.
18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the
supporting plate is coupled to the lower cover, and supports the
key pad towards the upper cover.
19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein the
switching unit comprises: a circuit board; and a switch mounted on
the circuit board and electrically connected to the circuit board
when the key pad is pressed, for generating a signal.
20. An assembly for a key input unit, the assembly comprising: a
support plate; and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) attached
on the support plate, wherein the flexible PCB has a first section
and a second section both with solder bumps thereon, the first and
second sections being offset in a planar manner with respect to
each other.
21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the first and second sections
are offset due to a stepped configuration with respect to each
other.
22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the support plate has a notch
that receives the second section.
23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the flexible PCB is attached
on the support plate through bonding, while no bonding exists
around the notch to allow the second section to be bent or inserted
into the notch.
24. The assembly of claim 23, further comprising: a housing
attached onto the flexible PCB, the housing having a first slot
located over the first section and a second slot located over the
second section to expose the solder bumps to allow electrical
connection thereto.
25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the housing is formed by a
molding process.
26. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the first and second slots
are separated by a bridge portion formed therebetween on the
housing.
27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the bridge portion is
configured to be positioned to mate with the second section.
28. The assembly of claim 26, further comprising: a plurality of
buttons operatively attached at the housing, each button located
over a respective actuator formed on the flexible PCB.
29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the buttons provide
multimedia controls that are exposed on a folder portion of a
mobile terminal.
30. The assembly of claim 29, further comprising: a first and a
second outer cover attached onto the housing to respectively cover
the first and second slots.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a), this application claims
the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean
Application No. 10-2005-0079084, filed on Aug. 26, 2005, the
contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a key pad assembly and a
mobile communication terminal having the same, and more
particularly, to a key pad assembly mounted at a mobile
communication terminal so as to be exposed outwardly and pressed by
a user for implementation of a specific function, and a mobile
communication terminal having the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] A mobile communication terminal is a portable wireless
communication device. The mobile communication terminal includes a
bar type, a flip type that a cover is rotatably mounted at a
bar-shaped key pad, a slide type that a cover is opened and closed
by a sliding, and a folder type that a display portion such as a
liquid crystal display (LCD) and a key pad portion are separately
opened and closed on a body portion. Recently, the mobile
communication terminal includes a watch phone having a watch
shape.
[0006] Even if the mobile communication terminal has various
functions or various forms, a portable characteristic of the mobile
communication terminal has to be maintained.
[0007] When the mobile communication terminal is provided with each
kind of multimedia function such as an image capturing function, a
music reproduction function, an electronic mail function, etc.,
each device for implementing the respective functions has to be
provided under a state that the mobile communication terminal is
implemented to be slim.
[0008] Among the several functions, the music reproduction function
will be explained.
[0009] Generally, the mobile communication terminal reproduces a
music file such as an MP3 file. In order to reproduce the music
file, a user has to input a signal for reproduction to a controller
such as a printed circuit board (PCB) by pressing a key pad.
[0010] However, in the folder type mobile communication terminal,
since it is difficult to rotatably open a folder portion on a body
portion, a key pad assembly is mounted not only at the body portion
but also at the folder portion so as to be exposed outwardly. The
key pad assembly arranged on an outer surface of the folder portion
serves to control a music playback function, which is called as a
music on demand (MOD) key.
[0011] One drawback of putting the key (or MOD key) pad assembly on
the outer surface of the folder portion is that the overall
thickness of mobile communication terminal of related art is likely
to be significantly increased. As more users want their mobile
terminal to be slimmer, the key pad assembly and the folder housing
of the mobile terminal of related arts are assembled in such a
close relationship or some portion of the folder housing is removed
to achieve the slim configuration. Thus, there is another drawback
that the manufacturing of the mobile terminal incorporating the key
pad assembly into the folder portion according to the above cited
approach in the related arts results in the increased interference
between the key pad assembly and the inner surface of the housing,
and poor structural integrity due to removal of some portion of the
folder housing.
[0012] Thus, there remains a need for the key pad assembly of the
mobile communication terminal capable of having a slim
configuration with significantly strong structural integrity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a key pad assembly implemented to be slim thus requiring a narrow
installation space at a mobile communication terminal and not
degrading another part of the mobile communication terminal, and a
mobile communication terminal having the same.
[0014] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a key pad assembly, comprising:
a key pad; a switching unit; a signal transmitting unit; and a
supporting plate.
[0015] The key pad is installed at a front surface of a cover so as
to be outwardly exposed and pressed, and the switching unit is
arranged at a rear surface of the cover so as to be positioned
below the key pad. The switching unit generates a specific signal
accordingly as a user presses the key pad. The signal transmitting
unit is electrically connected to the switching unit, and transmits
a signal generated from the switching unit to a controller, such as
a printed circuit board (PCB). The signal transmitting unit is
implemented as a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) for example,
and has a soft property. The supporting plate supports the key pad,
the switching unit, and the signal transmitting unit sequentially
arranged, and is provided with a guiding portion at a position
corresponding to an extended portion of the signal transmitting
unit.
[0016] The guiding portion is a cut-out portion formed accordingly
as the supporting plate is partially cut-out, and induces the
extended portion of the signal transmitting unit to be bent so as
to be more spaced from the cover than a plane of the supporting
plate. Accordingly, the extended portion of the signal transmitting
unit is not interfered with the rear surface of the cover. When a
soldering portion (a portion formed by soldering a wire so as to be
electrically connected to a speaker), a portion protruded from the
extended portion is formed, an interference between the soldering
portion and the cover is solved by the guiding portion.
[0017] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is also provided a mobile communication
terminal, comprising: a terminal body; and a key pad assembly
mounted at the terminal body for inputting a signal. The terminal
body can comprise a body portion, and a folder portion connected to
the body portion and rotatably opened and closed. The folder
portion includes an upper cover and a lower cover forming an inner
space therebetween.
[0018] The key pad assembly is arranged at the inner space of the
folder portion, and the key pad of the key pad assembly is exposed
outwardly through the upper cover thus to generate a signal at the
switching unit when pressed by a user. The supporting plate coupled
to the lower cover for pressurizing the key pad assembly towards
the upper cover is provided with a guiding portion, thereby
preventing an interference between the signal transmitting unit and
the upper cover. Accordingly, a groove for preventing an
interference between the signal transmitting unit and the upper
cover need not be formed at the upper cover. That is, since the key
pad assembly is slim, it enhances a spatial utilization of the
mobile communication terminal at the time of being installed at the
mobile communication terminal.
[0019] The signal transmitting unit has a plurality of separated
forms, and the guiding portion of the supporting plate can be
formed to partially bend the plural signal transmitting unit so as
not to degrade a supporting function of the supporting plate.
[0020] The key pad assembly is mounted at the folder portion so as
to be exposed outwardly, and serves to control a music reproduction
function, which is called as a music on demand (MOD) key assembly.
However, the key pad assembly can be used for another purpose as
well as for a music reproduction function.
[0021] Even if the present invention was applied to a folder type
mobile communication terminal, it can be applied to various mobile
communication terminals such as a bar type, a flip type, a slide
type, etc.
[0022] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0024] In the drawings:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile communication
terminal according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a folder
portion and a key pad assembly mounted at the folder portion of
FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the key pad
assembly of FIG. 2;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a coupled state of the
key pad assembly except a key pad of FIG. 3;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the folder portion of
FIG. 2; and
[0030] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile communication
terminal according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0033] As shown, a mobile communication terminal according to a
first embodiment of the present invention comprises a terminal body
10 and 20, and a key pad assembly 30 mounted at the terminal body
and pressed by a user.
[0034] The terminal body 10 and 20 includes a body portion 10, and
a folder portion 20 rotatably connected to the body portion 10. The
body portion 10 is provided with an antenna 11 for transceiving a
wireless frequency, and a battery 12 for supplying power. A camera
14 is rotatably mounted at a body hinge 13 protruded from one edge
of the body portion 10. The folder portion 20 includes a folder
cover 21 for covering inner components, a sub-display 22 mounted at
the folder cover 21 for outputting visual information, and a folder
hinge 23 formed at one edge of the folder portion 20 in
correspondence with the body hinge 13 of the body portion 10 and
coupled to body hinge 13 for opening and closing the folder portion
20 on the body portion 10. The sub-display 22 is provided
separately from a main display (not shown) formed at an inner
surface of the folder portion 20, that is, a surface of the folder
portion 20 contacting the body portion 10. Therefore, even when the
folder portion 20 is positioned on the body portion 10 (closed
state), the user can easily certify necessary information. As the
main display and the sub-display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is
used.
[0035] The key pad assembly 30 is mounted at the inner space of the
folder portion 20 so that the key pad 31 can be exposed outside the
folder portion 20 separately from a key pad assembly 30 exposed at
a front surface of the body portion 10 which contacts the folder
portion 20. The key pad assembly 30 serves to input a music
reproduction function, etc. under a state that the mobile
communication terminal is in a closed state, and is called as a
music on demand (MOD) key assembly.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a folder
portion and a key pad assembly mounted at the folder portion of
FIG. 1.
[0037] As shown, a folder cover 21 of the folder portion 20 is
composed of an upper cover 211 and a lower cover 212. The upper
cover 211 and the lower cover 212 form an inner space therebetween,
and the key pad assembly 30 is mounted at the inner space.
[0038] The upper cover 211 is respectively provided with a display
hole 211-1 for mounting a sub-display 22, a key pad hole 211-2 for
mounting the key pad 31 of the key pad assembly 30, and a soldering
portion hole 211-3 for protruding a soldering portion. The
soldering portion hole 211-3 is not exposed outwardly by a cap (not
shown) (refer to FIG. 1).
[0039] The key pad assembly 30 and a speaker 40 can be mounted at
the lower cover 212. The supporting plate 34 of the key pad
assembly 30 is mounted at the lower cover 212, and pressurizes the
key pad 31, the switching unit 32, and the signal transmitting unit
33 deposited thereon towards the upper cover 211.
[0040] The key pad assembly 30 is arranged in parallel with the
upper cover 211 and the lower cover 212, The key pad assembly 30
will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the key pad
assembly of FIG. 2.
[0042] As shown, the key pad assembly 30 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention comprises the key pad 31, the
switching unit 32, the signal transmitting unit 33, and the
supporting plate 34.
[0043] The key pad 31 is pressed by a user for implementation of a
specific function, and is called as a MOD key.
[0044] The switching unit or actuator unit 32 generates a specific
signal accordingly as the key pad 31 is pressed by the user. The
switching unit 32 includes a circuit board 321, and a switch or
actuator 322 electrically connected to the circuit board 321 and
generating a signal at the circuit board 321 when the key pad 31 is
pressed. For example, a dome shaped switch can be used.
[0045] The signal transmitting unit 33 is arranged below the
switching unit 32, and transmits a signal generated from the
switching unit 32 to a controller, for example, a printed circuit
board (not shown) mounted at the body portion 10 of FIG. 1. Then,
the controller performs a specific function accordingly as the user
presses the key pad assembly 30. The signal transmitting unit 33
can be implemented as a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB)
electrically connected to the switching unit 32. The signal
transmitting unit 33 includes an extended portion 331 extending
from the switching unit 32 arranged thereon, and a soldering
portion 332 protruding from the extended portion 331.
[0046] The extended portion 331 of the signal transmitting unit 33
is divided into is at least two parts, for example, a first portion
331-1 and a second portion 331-2 by a division portion 331-3. The
soldering portion 332 is arranged on the extended portion 331 in
plurality, and is soldered in order to electrically connect the
signal transmitting unit 33, the speaker 40, etc. to one
another.
[0047] The supporting plate 34 is arranged below the signal
transmitting unit 33, and has a plate shape. The supporting plate
34 for supporting the key pad 31, the switching unit 32, and the
signal transmitting unit 33 is formed of a material having a rigid
characteristics. A guiding portion such as a cut-out portion 341 is
configured to be formed at one side of the supporting plate 34 in
correspondence with the extended portion 331 of the signal
transmitting unit 33. The cut-out portion 341 is a cut-out in a
longitudinal direction of the supporting plate 34 (right and left
directions in drawing) in correspondence with the second portion
331-2. As the result, the extended portion 331 having a flexible
characteristics, more concretely, the second portion 331-2 is bent
towards a direction spaced from the key pad 31 by the cut-out
portion 341. A coupled state of the key pad assembly 30 will be
explained with reference to FIG. 4.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a coupled state of the
key pad assembly except a key pad of FIG. 3.
[0049] As shown, the signal transmitting unit 33 on which the
switching unit 32 is arranged is provided on the supporting plate
34. Herein, the soldering portion 332 arranged on the first portion
331-1 is protruded thus to determine a height of the key pad
assembly 30. However, the soldering portion 332 arranged on the
second portion 331-2 is positioned on the same plane as the
supporting plate 34 accordingly as the second portion 331-2 is bent
by the cut-out portion 341 of the supporting plate 34.
[0050] That is, the position of the soldering portion 332 which
influences on the height of the key pad assembly 30 can be lowered
by forming the cut-out portion 341 at the supporting plate 34 as a
guiding portion.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the folder portion of
FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of
FIG. 5.
[0052] The soldering portion 332 of the signal transmitting unit 33
of the key pad assembly 30 is one factor to determined the height
of the key pad assembly 30. When the key pad assembly 30 is mounted
at the folder portion 20 having a limited thickness, the soldering
portion hole 211-3 has to be formed at the folder portion 20 for a
slim implementation of the folder portion 20.
[0053] However, as long as the soldering portion 332 is formed at
the second portion 331-2 so as to be spaced from the upper cover
211 of the folder portion 20 by the cut-out portion 341, the
soldering portion hole 211-3 for mounting the soldering portion 332
need not be formed.
[0054] That is, an area of the soldering portion hole 211-3
occupied on the upper cover 211 is decreased or is not generated,
thereby increasing an intensity of the upper cover 211. Even if the
intensity of the upper cover 211 is increased, the upper cover 211
is not thickened due to the following reason. Whereas the soldering
portion 332 serves to implement the upper cover 211 to be thin or
is provided with the soldering portion hole 211-3 in the related
art, the cut-out portion 341 itself serves to arrange the soldering
portion 332 not to be interfered with the upper cover 211 in the
present invention.
[0055] As aforementioned, in the key pad assembly according to one
aspect of the present invention, the guiding portion for bending
the signal transmitting unit that determines the entire height of
the key pad assembly is formed at the supporting plate, thereby
minimizing the entire height of the key pad assembly. Furthermore,
since the mobile communication terminal according to another aspect
of the present invention has the key pad assembly, the terminal
body (especially, the upper cover of the folder portion) can be
slim when the key pad assembly is installed at the mobile
communication terminal or a groove need not be formed at the
terminal body. As the result, the terminal body is easily
fabricated and its intensity is not lowered.
[0056] In the present invention, the guiding portion formed at the
supporting plate for bending the extended portion 331 is
implemented as the cut-out portion 341.
[0057] However, it is also possible to implement another guiding
portion. For instance, when the supporting plate 34 has a certain
thickness, the guiding portion can be implemented as a groove
having a size enough to position the extended portion 331 not as
the cut-out portion 341.
[0058] In the present invention, the extended portion 331 is
divided into the first portion 331-1 and the second portion 331-2,
and only the second portion 331-2 is bent. When the supporting
plate 34 is completely cut-out up to a part corresponding to the
first portion 331-1, the supporting plate 34 is structurally
weakened. However, if the supporting plate 34 is implemented as
another form and thus the intensity of the supporting plate 34 is
not lowered, a guiding portion having a size corresponding to the
entire size of the extended portion 331 where the soldering portion
332 is formed can be formed thereby to entirely bend the extended
portion 331. Herein, the soldering portion hole 211-3 need not be
formed at the upper cover 211.
[0059] In accordance with the present invention, an assembly for a
key input unit can comprise a support plate; and a flexible printed
circuit board (PCB) attached on the support plate, wherein the
flexible PCB has a first section and a second section both with
solder bumps thereon, the first and second sections being offset in
a planar manner with respect to each other. The first and second
sections are offset due to a stepped configuration with respect to
each other and the support plate has a notch that receives the
second section. The flexible PCB is attached on the support plate
through bonding, while no bonding exists around the notch to allow
the second section to be bent or inserted into the notch. The
assembly further comprises a housing attached onto the flexible
PCB, the housing having a first slot located over the first section
and a second slot located over the second section to expose the
solder bumps to allow electrical connection thereto, and the
housing is formed by a molding process. The first and second slots
are separated by a bridge portion formed therebetween on the
housing. The bridge portion is configured to be positioned to mate
with the second section. The assembly further comprises a plurality
of buttons operatively attached at the housing, each button located
over a respective actuator formed on the flexible PCB. The buttons
provide multimedia controls that are exposed on a folder portion of
a mobile terminal. The assembly can also comprise a first and a
second outer cover attached onto the housing to respectively cover
the first and second slots, and a housing placed over the flexible
PCB, the inner cover having relatively small openings located above
the first and second sections to expose the solder bumps to allow
electrical connection thereto.
[0060] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described
embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing
description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be
construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of
such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the
appended claims.
* * * * *